Stormers v Chiefs Super Rugby Quarter Final Preview

The fourth and final Super Rugby quarter final is in Cape Town South Africa where the Stormers host the Chiefs.

The Stormers finished the regular season in third place overall as they topped Africa 1 Super Rugby Conference with 51 points.

The Chiefs finished the regular season third in the New Zealand Conference and in sixth place overall with 51 points as well. Like the Lions did in Africa 2 the Stormers had some weaker opposition in their conference while the Chiefs were in the toughest conference.

The Stormers also went through the season without playing any of the New Zealand teams. These teams therefore did not play each this season and last met in March last year. That match was won by the Chiefs.

The Stormers have played the Chiefs 17 times in Super Rugby since 1998 and they have won 9 matches and lost 8. This gives the Stormers a record of winning 53% of their matches against the Chiefs.

This weekend the match will be played in Cape Town where the teams have met 8 times. The Stormers have won five of those matches and lost three which gives them a record of winning 63% of their home matches against the Chiefs.

The average score when the Stormers play the Chiefs in Cape Town is : Stormers 24 Chiefs 24.

For this match the Stormers have named flyhalf Robert du Preez in their starting line up. Du Preez’s selection is almost a gamble as he started twice early in the season but was injured and has not featured for the Stormers since round 2. He comes into the side as Jean-Luc du Plessis was injured against the Southern Kings last week so his selection is also out of necessity.

Elsewhere Stormers coach has made one other change to the backline as Nic Groom returns after being rested against the Southern Kings, with Louis Schreuder and Brandon Thomson providing backline cover on the replacements bench.

In the front row Bongi Mbonambi starts at hooker with Scarra Ntubeni moving to the replacements bench where he will be joined by props Oli Kebble and co-captain Frans Malherbe who are both returning from injury.

Locks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit both return after sitting out last week, whilst the only change to the loose trio sees Siya Kolisi return to the starting XV, with Rynhardt Elstadt and a fit-again Nizaam Carr amongst the replacements.

At the time of writing the Chiefs had not named their team to play this week but no big surprises are expected.

“Best referees in the world” is an opinion. Everyone is entitled to an opinion – it is not fact. A full panel of South African referees in a South African team’s home game has the potential to benefit the home side. Neutral referees should have been appointed. It’s why they do it at international level.

I totally agrees with neutral referees. This would have been a better option. The South-African referees like to give the 50/50 decisions against the South-African teams thus I must disagree that it would benefit the Stormers. Who ever win this game, lets hope it is a fair win